The Greatest Battles Are Fought In The Mind
For those who haven’t before, meet Riley Andersen, a young girl in who’s mind are a series of basic emotions that influence her actions: Joy, Anger, Fear, Disgust, and Sadness. All of Riley's experiences become memories that are stored and sent to her memory each night. Joy acts as the leader, and tries to limit Sadness's influence, seeing Sadness as an unnecessary burden for Riley.
Riley moves from one town to another for her dad’s new job. At first, Riley has poor experiences: the new house is cramped and old; her dad hardly has any time for her, a local pizza parlor only serves pizza topped with broccoli, which she dislikes; and the removal van with their belongings was misdirected to the wrong place and will not arrive for weeks.
On Riley's first day at her new school, Sadness saddens joyous memories, causing Riley to cry, much to the shock of Joy, Anger, Disgust, and Fear. This also creates Riley's first sad core memory. Joy tries to get rid of the memory but accidentally knocks loose the other memories during a struggle with Sadness. Joy, Sadness, and the core memories are then sucked away into a deep, hidden memory bank.
In the absence of Joy and Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust are forced to take control of Riley; they try to make happy memories, but the results are disastrous, distancing Riley from her parents, peers, and hobbies. Without the core memories, Anger gradually causes Riley's personality islands to crumble and fall into the "Memory Dump", where things fade to non-existence as they are forgotten, and Anger takes control.
I personally love the film Inside Out which follows Riley’s story. Despite being an animated fictional representation of what happens in our minds, I believe, although animated, the representation isn’t far from the truth. Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, Disgust are just a fraction of the many emotions battling for top spot in our fragile minds. A constant battle for the leadership of our thoughts, and ultimately the leadership of our actions.
But God has called us to not be swayed by the mind battle, or be confirmed by the ways of the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
God knows our very inner core and He already knows those deep hidden thoughts that rage in our minds. In this time of fasting, don’t hold onto those thoughts and allow them to take control. Cast those very thoughts onto Him. Allow Him to take the weight they carry and burden they bring, and allow Him to lay His hands on your thoughts, and renew them to thoughts that align with His will.
Riley’s story ends well. Allow God to make your story well too.
God bless you.